The trial against the Legend of Gérard Depardieu cinema, for alleged sexual aggressions to two women during a filming in 2021, began on Monday in Paris in a tense environment, with the defense lawyer pointing to the plaintiffs and denouncing a plot.
Depardieu, 76 and dressed in black, entered the Paris Correctional Court, supported by his lawyer’s shoulder, Jéremie Assous, in this first case against him for sexual violence that comes to trial.
This trial will allow to confront the accusations with the reality, the witnesses and the configuration of the place. In this way, we can indisputably demonstrate that all accusations are false, warned the lawyer to the press upon arrival.
Before the judges, Assous defended, with a long allegation, the nullity of the process, considering that the police investigation was “bungling” and criticizing the, in his opinion, “Stalinist methods” of the prosecutor.
Raising the voice several times, the lawyer pointed to both the plaintiffs and the journalists to denounce a conspiracy in which, in his opinion, the police also participated to “make a sacred monster fall”.
Depardieu, who has shot more than 200 films and television series, is the highest profile figure that faces accusations of sexual violence in the response of French cinema to the Metoo Movement.
Dozens of feminist, some with violet vests, demonstrated in front of the court with banners in which they read: “We believe” and “not the culture of rape.”
“Impunity is unbearable”
The tried events occurred during the filming, in 2021, of the film Les Volets Vertsby director Jean Becker. A 54 -year -old decorator and an assistant of 34 accuse him of sexist aggression, harassment and outrages.
The first woman, called Amélie, denounces that, during filming in September 2021 in a palace in Paris, the interpreter shouted that she wanted a fan because she could no longer have an erection because of the heat.
He then said that he could make women correct themselves without touching them and, an hour later, he grabbed her brutally and groped her waist, belly and breasts, while profinging obscene comments, according to her story.
Sarah (Pseudonym), an assistant direction in that film, also denounced the legend of French cinema for twice the chest and buttocks, in August 2021, according to the media media mediapart.
There is no doubt what he did, Anauk Grinberg told the press, one of the actresses of the film, who called justice to punish him because “impunity is unbearable.” During the first day, she was expelled from the room to react aloud to the defendant’s allegations.
Depardieu, who was accompanied in court by his daughter Roxane, who wore a black sweatshirt with the slogan “Fuck You”, and other relatives such as actor Vincent Perez, faces up to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros (about 81,200 dollars).
Refrigerio and private bathroom
The trial was scheduled for October, but the defendant did not attend the sight, claiming sequelae of a heart operation and a diabetes aggravated by the stress of the judicial process.
Now, an expert declared it suitable to appear, although with conditions: the views will not exceed six hours a day, with a snack at three hours, private access to the bathroom and the possibility of controlling its blood glucose level, explained the president of the court.
Sitting in a special stool in front of the court, Depardieu made a grimace of pain by moving towards the judges to confirm their identity.
Given the temporal limitation, the extensive initial allegation of Assous and its multiple procedural demands exasperated the lawyers of the complainants.
The only thing that the defense intends is to gain time so that we cannot enter the bottom of the matter, the lawyer Carine Durrieu-Diebolt replied angry.
About twenty women accuse this international star of French cinema of similar behaviors, although most complaints were filed by prescription.
French actress Charlotte Arnould was the first to file a complaint. In August, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office requested that the actor be tried for rape and sexual aggressions.
I never abused a woman, said the interpreter in an open letter published by the newspaper Figaro in October 2023.
The trial will resume on Tuesday and must continue at least until Wednesday.